STATE TIMES NEWS
BHADARWAH: To protest against alleged corruption and high-handedness of police, dozens of drivers jammed and disrupted the traffic on Doda-Bhadarwah at Bhalla area, 15 KM from Bhadarwah. The police and civil administration had a tough time to pecify the agitating drivers.
According to reports, the drivers assembled at main market Bhalla on the highway at 8:00 AM and while raising slogans against the police officials, stopped the traffic by burning tyres and staging a protest.
The drivers, who mostly ply on the roads falling under the jurisdiction of Police Post Bhalla, alleged that incharge Police Post along with constables not only use foul language but also manhandle poor drivers for no fault of theirs.
An agitated driver alleged that, Incharge Police Post Bhalla along with two constables stopped minibus and draged out the driver, Ashiq Hussain, and without any provocation started abusing him and even manhandled him with punches and blows. “Stern action should be taken against the erring police officials, “he demanded.
When contacted SDPO Bhadarwah Brijesh Sharma said that, police is just performing its duty to regulate the traffic and making the drivers to follow the rules and traffic norms. The young officer posted at Bhalla is doing a commendable job by trying to implement traffic rules in letter and spirit, which does not go well with habitual offenders.
SDPO further said that the said driver was stopped and reperminded by the police officials on duty for overspeeding and creating chaos on the road.
“By protesting on the road and making commuters hostage is nothing more than a blackmailing tactics and a ploy to pressurise the police, “SDPO added.
Meanwhile, administration had a tough time to pecify the drivers as nearly 200 vehicles got stranded on both sides of the highway.
Later, SHO Bhadarwah Jatinder Sambyal along with Naib Tehsildar Bhalla Sanjay Kumar reached the spot and assured the agitating drivers that they will look into the matter and drivers would not be harassed unnecessarily if they follow the rules.
However, after assurance from the administration, drivers called-off their stir and traffic was restored after three hours.
